When the 73-year-old Swedish sailor and adventurer was asked to give a talk in front of the Swedish king and queen, he refused because he wouldn't get paid.

"They (the organisers) told me that doing it was considered an honour," he scoffed.

The lecture went ahead a few months later after an oil millionaire stepped in and paid Yrvind, which means "whirlwind," his fee. But even then, he refused to don the black tailcoat organisers wanted him to wear.